Dubbo gives warm welcome to trainee GPs

Jun 29, 2018 | Latest news | Media releases

Moving to a new town is so much easier if you’re welcomed by the locals. On Tuesday night, local general practice training provider GP Synergy, brought together 50 local health professionals and special guests including Member for Dubbo The Hon. Troy Grant, for a networking event to help new GP registrars settle into town. Mr...

Moving to a new town is so much easier if you’re welcomed by the locals.

On Tuesday night, local general practice training provider GP Synergy, brought together 50 local health professionals and special guests including Member for Dubbo The Hon. Troy Grant, for a networking event to help new GP registrars settle into town.

Mr John Oldfield, GP Synergy’s CEO welcomed guests, including registrars training in general practices in Dubbo, Gilgandra, Narromine and Wellington.

“Eleven new doctors have moved to the Dubbo area this term, joining the 21 GP registrars who are already in the later stages of training here.

“Registrars are training in 12 local practices under the supervision of accredited GPs, so they not only receive the best medical training, but also get a taste for living in this community.

“GP Synergy provides assistance to registrars moving to rural locations to settle-in, and events like this are a good opportunity for the new doctors to meet locals who already recognise it’s a great place to work,” Mr Oldfield said.

One of the new doctors in town, Dr Nicole Smith, grew up in Sydney but moved to Dubbo to do a year of training at the School of Rural Health, enjoying the lifestyle so much she has returned for GP training.

“I met my now fiancé, who is from Dubbo, while I was here as a medical student and so have moved back here to complete my training in general practice and then hopefully stay long term.

“I think that with rural training you can get to be a part of the local community in a way that’s not as easy to do in a big city like Sydney – and the lifestyle here is definitely better!

“The best aspect has been getting to know a variety of patients and their circumstances, particularly learning about the challenges people face running a farm, as those challenges are so different from life experiences in Sydney,” Dr Smith said.

There are currently more than 130 registrars undertaking GP training in 105 general practices and hospital facilities across Western NSW.

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